Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-11
letter from Fairfax.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAZETTE.
To use phrase in olden time scanned
take my pen in hand
To write you. but you must excuse
TO WHO you, Out you lUUsU CACLso
nv letter il it gives no news.

take my pen In hand
To write you. but you must excuse
Ny letter il it gives no news.
DRANEsvILLE, Fuirfax Co., Va, Oct. 10
In olden times this was fast place, people
lived fast and made money. The woods
were full of game the creeks abounded
with Gsil. The chief vice OF the time was
drunkenness. The one virtue most priced
was courage and fighting. It was "big
thing, you bet" to &c. tipsy now and then,
on court day or at barbecue, was matter
of course. Party spirit ran high and stump
oratory was in ts glory. What romances
could the old decsying trees in the grove
tell of brawny youths and blooming girls
that amble1l around them in ante bellum
days but most of these have passed over
to the mystery and silence of the world OF
spirits, aud it's Of the new Dranesyile and
her entertainments We would write. Last
Wednesday aud Thursday nights an i'm
mense concourse OF people met. filling every
vacant spot in GU: large and commod!ous
school house, TO attend the musical and
dramatic entertainment gotten up ny Mrs.
Georgia Darrell, Miss Roso Farr and Miss
Jennie Hurst (who have always been cele
hrated for their skill in getting up such
",
some new organ. A circle of Chinese Ian.
terms hung around the stage, which was
tastefully decorated in bright, fresh colors,
which harmonizcd nicely with each other.
The dresses of the ladies and the suits of
the male actors correspondent to the parts to
be played. The effect was good and shows
what can be done with inexpensive material
when combined with good taste. The exer.
cises of the evening began with scene in
railway station with organ accompaniment.
In this scene Miss Hattie Whitacre person.
ated to perfection Mrs. Prudence Peg,
plucky old woman, who was looking for
runaway husband, using her carpet bag
freely over the heads of John Anderson,
dude, and VIM. McMillen, an Irishman, who
were disposed to poke fun al her. Next on
the programme came "Arabella's Poor Rela-
tions," Miss Rose Wrenn acting the fashiona.
BILE young lady of the present day and Miss
Jennie Hurst her poor Cousin Mary. VIM.
Miskell, with dry grin, which ID peculiar
to him, provoked much fun by burlesqueiDg
John Hopkins, from Turkey Ran. Aunt
Dinah's Pledge in two acts and six scenes,
evening. Henry Crippen, in the dress Of
the old negro woman Whose hustle had
reached O high state Of deyelopmentj by his
dry familiar humor and comic powers, was
irresistible. Miss Rose Farr played the school
mistress from Boston and Mrs. Georgia OAR
rell the daughter of a Boston saloon keeper.
1t would take too much space to write all
the amusing things and tragic scenes. The
most difficult pieces were acted with skill
I have never seen equaled. Sam. Soman's
Angel" and 1.-THE Carpet Dagger" were ex
celleut pieces and well performed. The Or
gan music by Miss Mary Duany was grand.
and the singing most excellent. Some Of
the characters were made so intensely gro.
tesque the audience was convulsed with
laughter. Altogether it was one of the most
profitable and enjoyable evenings we have
ever had here, and an organ is paid for and
in church ready for the sweet songs ofZicn.
In conclusion let me- say we have more
pretty girls and tall men than any village
not larger than ours) il the State. Onr
men average over six feet.
We have had a temperance revival here;
2l aew members; will tell you OF it in my
next. J.